Volume 6 — PLATE CCCLXXIX.

RHODODENDRON PONTICUM, var. deciduum.

Deciduous Purple Rhododendron.

CLASS X. ORDER I.

DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Ten Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx 5-partitus. Corolla rotato-infundibuliformis. Stamina declinata. Capsula 5-locularis.

Empalement of 5 divisions. Blossom wheel-funnel-shaped. Chives declined. Capsule 5-celled.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, &C.

Rhododendron, foliis lanceolatis deciduis, laciniis corollæ valde undulatis.

Rhododendron, with lanced deciduous leaves, and segments of the corolla very much waved.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.

The figure which accompanies this description represents a beautiful plant, which is probably an hybrid one; generated between some Azalea and the pontic Rhododendron. It is reported to have been raised some time since in the Nursery at Mile-end, from seeds which were grown in this country. In appearance, and in the structure of the leaves, it resembles its supposed mother the Rhododendron ponticum; but in their deciduous nature, and in some parts of the inflorescence; and likewise in other particulars; it betrays a considerable similitude to the American Azaleæ.

The pontic Rhododendron is a very sportive species; varies much in the formation and colour of its corolla; and we cultivate a strong variety of it with the flowers of R. maximum. The present variety has not any of its undulated flowers spotted with yellow, no more than that which is figured by Pallas in Flora Rossica: yet the spotting of the three superior segments of the corolla is pretty constant in most of the varieties which we have examined; and is even present, although faintly, in R. maximum. Our figure was taken at Whitley and Brames’s in the month of May.